About Dr. Manuel Rigo and BSPTSWatch Dr. Manuel Rigo, BSPTS Medical Director, explain the benefits of the evidence-based Rigo Concept-BSPTS.
Dr. Rigo founded the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS) in 2008. The program teaches the Rigo Concept, a 3-D scoliosis treatment based on the principles of Katharina and Christa Lehnert Schroth, that began in Germany in the 1920’s. Dr. Rigo was trained at the original Katharina Schroth Clinic in Germany in the 1980’s. Since then, he and his staff have practiced Schroth principles at his clinic, Institut Elena Salva, in Barcelona, Spain. In 1989, Dr. Rigo received approval to begin teaching Schroth certification courses for physical therapists. After decades of teaching, he founded BSPTS to further develop scoliosis curriculum — teaching the original Schroth principles and adding advanced concepts learned during years of clinical experience and research - that became the Rigo Method for the physical therapy component. It is a 3-D exercise approach to scoliosis that is based upon the original principles of Katerina and C.L. Schroth, but represents an evolution of treatment ideas based upon Dr. Rigo’s experience. The end result is a unique approach that incorporates elements of Schroth, but is technically and conceptually different than the original technique. BSPTS strives to help the PT find a balance between scientific knowledge of the spinal deformity, the General and Specific Principles of Correction, and the touching formats needed to achieve the corrections.
CLICK HERE for Dr. Rigo's extensive publication list.
Overall bringing this knowledge and method of treatment to our facility has been a true blessing for patients in our community. - Sandra Engle, PT, DPT, C1 &C2 Certified, Texas Children's Hospital
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About BSPTS-North America
When Dr. Rigo founded the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School, he invited three leading Schroth scoliosis physical therapists from the United States to become teachers in his school - Amy Sbihli, Beth Janssen and Cindy Marti - for the BSPTS North American region. The North American team has made significant strides in bringing the Rigo Concept, an evolution of Schroth, to the United States and Canada. In their first decade of work, the BSPTS North American team has trained more than 600 therapists in the U.S. and Canada. As of January 1st, 2025, they have trained over 770 therapists. Their goal is to educate enough physical therapists to create access to scoliosis physical therapy for every scoliosis patient in need. |
